Trail riders will mosey throught town again

Sam Houston Trail Riders are scheduled to make their annual stop in Tomball Feb. 22 as the group makes its way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

This year the gaggle of cowboys and cowgirls who make the 70-mile trek on horseback to Houston from Montgomery County Park will make their pit stop at Tomball's Heritage Plaza, located in front of City Hall, at 401 Market Street.

The City Council approved a resolution Jan. 3 announcing this year's visit by the trail riders and authorized the closure of Market Street between Oak and Pine streets during the reception.

The plaza will be closed for 24 hours, beginning at 5 p.m. Feb. 21, according to resolution 2005-02, which received a unanimous approval from the City Council.

The trail riders will enter Tomball at FM 2920 and FM 2978 and head west toward North Cherry Street in order to get to the plaza for the reception. The trail riders will receive police escort to the reception and when they leave to head out of town to a near by camp ground for the night.

According to City Secretary Doris Speer, the city has sponsored the reception for the trail riders since 2000 when the reception was picked up by the city.

"The Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event for a number of years," she said.

According to the resolution the trail ride is a chance for the community to "enjoy fun, food and good cheer with the Sam Houston Trail Riders."

Speer said trail riders will "ride in" for some refreshments. Tomball Mayor H.G. "Hap" Harrington will issue a proclamation and trail bosses will receive gifts from the city.

"We will give stuff to the kids in the trail ride, as well," she said.

Speer is one of the planners for the event this year.

"We will ask the Promenaders to come and perform and will probably send out flyers to area schools and daycare facilities to see if they have groups who would like to perform," she said. "We will buy cookies and the Chamber will probably hand out goodie bags to the trail riders."

The Tomball Volunteer Fire department may also have a truck or other apparatus at the plaza for the public to tour.

Speer said the reception doesn't cost the city very much to put together because area businesses donate speakers and microphone systems used to read the city proclamation and to make announcements. Another company usually donates the flat-bed trailer which is normally used as a stage for the event each year.